Second forum on legalizing pot again dominated by those who support it

The second stop on Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s statewide listening tour to gauge interest in legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania was much like his first, with overwhelming support from the standing-room-only crowd in Mechanicsburg on Wednesday.

Roughly three-quarters of the 150 or so crammed into the ballroom at the American Legion Post 109 in Mechanicsburg favored its legalization. For comparison, the tour’s first stop in Harrisburg on Monday, revealed in a show of hands from the crowd that support there was even stronger at four to one.

On this Cumberland County stop on the listening tour, those who want to make pot legal in Pennsylvania cited several reasons. Some expressed a desire to limit government’s involvement in people’s lives and others want to make it more affordable for people who want it for medical reasons.

But opponents made their objections known as well. In fact, the first two speakers who stepped up to one of the two microphones set up at the front of the room were against it.

Gene Arnold of Lower Allen Township, a former police officer, said he has two nephews who are cops in Colorado who told him that state went downhill after recreational use was made legal there.

“I am against it,” he said. “It’s an addictive drug and we already have enough problems.”

The next man who spoke said while he supported legalizing medical marijuana, he is against broad legalization that he sees as a gateway drug that will lead to more sexual assaults, mass shootings, child abuse and other societal problems.

“It’s just another attempt to lower our standards, and we should not bow to those who will profit by this,” he said.

Paul Maulfair Jr., who lives in Middletown, said while some argue that marijuana is safer than other drugs, “safer does not mean safe. Not legalizing any additional recreational drugs is far safer.”

But for the few who called it a gateway drug and cited research that spoke of the negative societal and health effects, supporters of legalization weren’t buying it.

“I’m going to be honest. I’ve smoked marijuana since I was 17. I’m 64 years old. I never used another drug in my life. It is not a gateway drug," said Sandra Webb of Mechanicsburg, drawing applause. She said she is eligible to get a card to buy medical marijuana in Pennsylvania but “I can’t afford it. I think marijuana should be legalized.”

Ron Lyter, a 66-year-old retired plumber and pipefitter, said he has used marijuana since he was 15. Throughout his career, he worked on multi-million dollar projects and showed up for work and raised a family.

“The idea that we’re going to become a dumb society, I personally can’t see it,” he said. “I’m very pro. It’s time. Let’s do it.”

Joe Mandrusiak shared that he is a longtime Republican and opposes recreational use of marijuana. But he added he finds it hypocritical to be for limited government and oppose something that should be a personal choice for people, whether they want to smoke it or not. So he is for it.

Russ Matthews of the Harrisburg area, who has worked in the drug and alcohol counseling field for three decades, said he has treated alcoholics as well as methamphetamine, heroin and crack addicts. He said he found marijuana to be the least harmful drug of any of them.

“I believe we are making criminals out of innocent people and it does not need to happen,” he said, admitting he smoked marijuana in college and still graduated with honors. “There are people who do get lost in it, but there are many people who get lost in alcohol and narcotics.”

Fetterman, who has been outspoken about his support for marijuana legalization, made it clear at the outset of the session – as well as during the session when someone challenged him about his view – that his position on the issue is not why he was there.

The audience remained mostly respectful of others who held an opposing view of legalization and the tone of the conversation remained civil. Afterward, Fetterman said that’s what he finds encouraging.

“People have different opinions and that’s what this tour is all about,” he said.

The listening tour is bringing into focus where Pennsylvanians stand on an issue that is gaining momentum across the country, including neighboring New York and New Jersey. Both states have signaled interest in legalizing recreational marijuana use sometime this year.

But even if the listening tour leads Gov. Tom Wolf to the same conclusion, any legalization bill will likely face an uphill battle in the state Legislature. Leaders of the House and Senate Republican majorities have made it clear they oppose the idea.

A stop on the listening tour in Perry County was postponed on Tuesday due to the winter weather that hit the area that day. But Fetterman’s Chief of Staff Bobby Maggio said it has been rescheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at a different location than where it was to be held. The session will take place at the firehall in New Bloomfield , 71 Soule Road.

In the meantime, the lieutenant governor is heading to western Pennsylvania on Monday and Tuesday with planned stops in Washington and Greene counties.

Those unable to attend a listening tour session or didn’t want to speak publicly about their views but want to offer their input on the issue of marijuana legalization can do so using this form on the governor’s website.

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